II Corinthians 12:15
"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."
This speaks of the Apostle Paul's love for God's people. He was willing to spend all his strength and time and life and all that he has for their welfare as a father does for his children.
As we were entrusted with the Gospel, we are committed to "spend and be spent" for others. To find pleasure, delight and joy in our service even if it takes all our strength and time that it demands.
Let us be willing to labour and "be spent" for the good of others even if we do not receive recognition for our efforts. No matter if people do not show their appreciation of what we do, let's keep on... Rejoice that we are doing God's will.
Count it all joy!
Monday, February 27, 2006
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Snowstorm
It's Sunday and am at home. There's a snow storm, a blizzard. It was a blessing that I didn't have to go to work in the hospital today. Church services at Bergenfield was cancelled due to the weather. Stayed home, slept a little... When the snow stopped, I think there's approximately 18 inches of snow on the ground. And my car was all covered with snow... I cleaned it this afternoon so the snow would not freeze on it overnight and be quite difficult to clean afterward. I would paste the pictures I took with my Nokia camera phone but I don't know how to to do it. Well, anyway, I miss Rey. It would be him cleaning the car instead of me, ha! ha! ha! My back hurts and it wa sooo cold!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Appointment Letter
Today, I received news from Rey that the packet we're waiting for from the U.S. Embassy arrived today in our Tagaytay address. Abigail Joy is scheduled for medical on March 10 and her visa interview on March 17. Praise God! God is truly faithful and good all the time!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Ladies Fellowship
February 5, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. I had another privilege of ministering to the ladies of Lord Jesus Christ Bible Church, "Seekers of God's Heart." I spoke on the material by Dr. Creason on "Maintaining a Good Prayer Life".
Together with the ladies, we learned that we have to be disciplined in our personal prayer life - our spiritual relationship with God. It's tough to be disciplined in prayer. But knowing that prayer works and because of previous answered prayers (and there are many of them!), I am encouraged to go on praying... not to stop until the request has been granted.
Today, I was reading some entries from my old journals, and again, I was encouraged the way God answered my prayers. Although it was long in coming (takes years!), God always answer! He hears! I realized that it's worth the waiting, the agony of waiting, to persevere and not to faint.
Here are some excerpts to share from my journal and my readings :
"Pray until what you pray for has been accomplished or until you have complete assurance in your heart that it will be. We dare not stop praying until either the answer itself has come or we receive assurance it will come..."
"When we believe God for a blessing, we must have an attitude of faith and begin to act and pray as if the blessing were already ours. We should respond to God as if He has granted our request."
"Delayed answers to prayers are not only trials of faith; they also give us opportunities to honor God through our steadfast confidence in Him even when facing the apparent denial of our request." C.H. Spurgeon
"Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except those things outside the will of God."
"No prayer is ever lost, or any prayer ever breathed in vain. There is no such thing as prayer unanswered or unnoticed by God, and some things we see as refusals or denials are simply delays." H. Bonar
"Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you... blessed are they that wait for Him." Isa. 30:18
Together with the ladies, we learned that we have to be disciplined in our personal prayer life - our spiritual relationship with God. It's tough to be disciplined in prayer. But knowing that prayer works and because of previous answered prayers (and there are many of them!), I am encouraged to go on praying... not to stop until the request has been granted.
Today, I was reading some entries from my old journals, and again, I was encouraged the way God answered my prayers. Although it was long in coming (takes years!), God always answer! He hears! I realized that it's worth the waiting, the agony of waiting, to persevere and not to faint.
Here are some excerpts to share from my journal and my readings :
"Pray until what you pray for has been accomplished or until you have complete assurance in your heart that it will be. We dare not stop praying until either the answer itself has come or we receive assurance it will come..."
"When we believe God for a blessing, we must have an attitude of faith and begin to act and pray as if the blessing were already ours. We should respond to God as if He has granted our request."
"Delayed answers to prayers are not only trials of faith; they also give us opportunities to honor God through our steadfast confidence in Him even when facing the apparent denial of our request." C.H. Spurgeon
"Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except those things outside the will of God."
"No prayer is ever lost, or any prayer ever breathed in vain. There is no such thing as prayer unanswered or unnoticed by God, and some things we see as refusals or denials are simply delays." H. Bonar
"Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you... blessed are they that wait for Him." Isa. 30:18
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Count It All Joy
Prayer Answered!
January 27, 006 6:15 a.m. as I was about to go out the door to work (I was really running late that time), I received an early long distance call from the Philippines-- It was Joy-joy my daughter informing me her birth certificate has been released!
Praise God! at last after months of waiting (about 6 months?). Rey told me the whole story when I got home from work that night. We are so happy and relieved! Another hurdle is done, next will be Joy's passport, then the letter from the embassy for medical & visa interview schedule. God hears our prayers. His delays are not denials....
I remember a week before the phone call, the Lord reminded me in my devotions, to keep my focus on God, to look up to Him that He is sovereign and in control of everything. He knows our desires. He wants me to put aside worries, concerns, hardships and look to God...
Daily, God assures me to continue to delight in Him, seeking Him first and "keeping our lives open to God.... to maintain a position of beholding Him..." And let not "the busyness of things obscures our concentration on God." (My Utmost for His Highest)
I need to continue to focus, concentrate in beholding my God; enjoying His goodness, faithfulness, power and mercy, and not to be distracted with the cares of this world. "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
And now, it gets me excited, there is this "constant state of expectancy" from the Lord. Excited how God will answer our other prayers to Him. "
Proverbs 24:14 reminds me - "..there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off."
January 27, 006 6:15 a.m. as I was about to go out the door to work (I was really running late that time), I received an early long distance call from the Philippines-- It was Joy-joy my daughter informing me her birth certificate has been released!
Praise God! at last after months of waiting (about 6 months?). Rey told me the whole story when I got home from work that night. We are so happy and relieved! Another hurdle is done, next will be Joy's passport, then the letter from the embassy for medical & visa interview schedule. God hears our prayers. His delays are not denials....
I remember a week before the phone call, the Lord reminded me in my devotions, to keep my focus on God, to look up to Him that He is sovereign and in control of everything. He knows our desires. He wants me to put aside worries, concerns, hardships and look to God...
Daily, God assures me to continue to delight in Him, seeking Him first and "keeping our lives open to God.... to maintain a position of beholding Him..." And let not "the busyness of things obscures our concentration on God." (My Utmost for His Highest)
I need to continue to focus, concentrate in beholding my God; enjoying His goodness, faithfulness, power and mercy, and not to be distracted with the cares of this world. "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
And now, it gets me excited, there is this "constant state of expectancy" from the Lord. Excited how God will answer our other prayers to Him. "
Proverbs 24:14 reminds me - "..there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)